The Things that Creep Around at Night [Private audio to Luna just before the 4th Wall went down]

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves doesn't particularly want to be seen at the moment as he's looking a little haggard. The nightmares he'd assured Luna were no problem have become problematic now that it would seem he's having different ones from the recurring one they'd had before the fight with the mare Nightmare in Ponyville. He'd never intended to actually call upon the Princess of Dreams, but he would be foolish to ignore her as a resource in this instance. It's very early morning - most would call it still night - when he contacts her.]

My apologies for any interruption to your regular duties, Your Royal Highness, but I wish to request an audience with you. Would you be available to meet at the top of the clock tower in Twilight Town sometime today?

Comments

[raisethemoon]

Certainly. Is something the matter?

[juniorganymedian]

I would prefer to discuss the matter face-to-face, madam. It regards my original request for your discretion when walking in dreams. I am presently at the clock tower and will be available at your convenience.

[raisethemoon]

Very well. I shall be there momentarily.

[And indeed she is, gliding into the top of the clock tower and coming in for a neat landing.]

Jeeves?

[juniorganymedian]

I'm here, madam.

[Jeeves stands from where he'd been sitting on the ledge of the clock tower, looking out toward the perpetual sunset. He looks paler than usual, though that could potentially be explained by a lack of sun exposure in Traverse Town. Less explicable by this are the dark circles beneath his eyes. He's dismissed both of his Spirits to the ether for the moment, so it's only the pair of them.]

Thank you for your prompt attention. I shall be direct: Certain unpleasant dreams have begun to interfere with my ability to acquire adequate sleep at night. This is most inconvenient with the arrival of my employer in the waking world.

I suspect the dreams hail from some unnatural magic brought by this world and the Nightmares. You have the ability to dispel unpleasant dreams, do you not?

[raisethemoon]

I do.

[She has indeed noticed certain...issues...radiating from his general area of the dreamscape. She deems it best not to mention that, however.]

Are you requesting my assistance, now? I can be quick in my efforts, but I can do nothing from outside the dream.

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves raises a brow.]

You are capable of entering my dreams while I am still awake, madam? Or would you like me to attempt to return to sleep for what remains of the relative night?

[raisethemoon]

I meant simply that you had refused the offer, before. Is this to be a one-time matter, or do you wish to rescind your previous decision?

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves straightens himself more than his usual prim posture, his way of shifting uncomfortably.]

There is a certain... theme, one might call it, to the dreams. Would you be able to dispel that with a single application of your abilities?

[raisethemoon]

My more typical method would be to help you work through the root of the problem, so that they would stop recurring on their own. But of course, one cannot always have done with things so easily.

[Especially humans. All of them are horrifically traumatized. All of them.]

As it is, I cannot simply force your subconscious to never bring up a certain subject again. That could do more harm than good.

[juniorganymedian]

There is no larger problem, madam. [There is also the issue of humans being stubborn, of course.] I dismissed such dreams some six years ago. Until arriving here. This would lead one to presume something related to this place is involved. I would hazard it is combat with the Nightmares and the magic they possess to affect the subconscious. The dreams relate to my service during the Great War. It was a somewhat trying experience at times, and one I see little functional purpose in keeping.

[From the way he speaks of it, Jeeves might as well have been discussing the weather. His tone is perfectly moderated and his expression passive indifference. One doesn't like to be overwrought when talking with royalty, after all.]

[raisethemoon]

...you dismissed your dreams of war.

[raisethemoon]

[Yeah. She's calling bullshit. It's not like Luna's never met a war veteran before, Jeeves - she's been a war veteran. She sighs. Really, it's perfectly reasonable that being exposed to combat again after six years of peace would cause a resurgence, there's no need to prattle on about functionality as though the subconscious were a toolkit one could pack at will.]

You are likely correct as to the cause, but I cannot remove it entirely without wiping your memories of the war, or something equally foalish.

[juniorganymedian]

[It says rather more than Jeeves would like that he stops to seriously consider the prospect of Luna wiping his memories of the War completely. She's right, though. He gained several valuable skills that would go to waste were he to forget that he knew them. Not to mention, four years is a significant block of time to lose in one's life, particularly a man's 20's.]

I see.

[Another pause, though he continues in a monotone. Forces himself to do so by disconnecting from the moment and the memories.]

How long do you require to be present in a dream before dispelling it, madam? Some may be most unpleasant for you due to the nature of the weaponry employed during the battles. Poison gas was a particular concern of mine and many others after several young men in our division were blinded or choked to death by it. I occasionally was assigned to assist in collecting the bodies and wounded from the field at the end of the day once our commanders had negotiated a temporary truce with the enemy for such activities.

It was most instructive in ascertaining the limits and tolerance of the physical human form, if nothing else. [He does not smile, but he means it as a joke. Gallows humor is a time-honored tradition for his people, after all.]

[raisethemoon]

[She wouldn't have done it anyway. She'd hoped that calling it foalish would make that clear.]

Not very long at all. [Luna raises an eyebrow but does not comment on the gallows humor.] Do not fret about me, anyhow. I am not unfamiliar with war - and I will do as I must.

[juniorganymedian]

[Women in war. In spite of seeing her in battle, in spite of knowing of female platoons and soldiers, Jeeves cannot help his mind going to starving women and children left to scrape by after their forces had moved through and desolated farms and businesses. Hungry and hurt eyes. He'd ignored them. There was little to do otherwise apart from spare a ration or two and suffer for it on the march the next day.]

I do not fret, madam, merely regret that such things would not faze you. I saw in the communications archives your discussion of the Great Griffon Wars with Agent Washington. It is to that which you are referring, I take it?

[raisethemoon]

...yes...

[Stars above, has he been reading everything in the archives? That talk has to have been months ago! Luna supposes she can't fault the man for wanting more information about this place...but it's a little weird.]

That was the major one. My sister and I dealt with most other matters on our own.

[juniorganymedian]

[Well, when you're no longer employed and have the time, Luna...

He nods.]

The burden of the royalty of your realm, then? That is a most unfortunate fate to suffer for two alone. But, no doubt, your subjects have appreciated the peace to come of it at less of their own expense.

[raisethemoon]

Is it not the duty of all royals to protect their subjects?

[Rhetorical - she's clearly seen that human leaders don't seem to do that much. To be fair, they aren't in possession of magic and lifespans far overreaching those of their subjects.]

But yes, Equestria has not experienced war for a very long time. A few recent attacks, certainly, but they were all put down with haste.

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves very pointedly does not answer her question.]

By your Elements of Harmony? [He realizes that he's simply making conversation now for the sake of keeping the subject away from himself and his purpose here.] My apologies, madam. I am curious, but I do not mean to pry.

[raisethemoon]

[She just inclines her head.]

By their current bearers, yes. You shall have to direct any more questions about that to Pinkie Pie or Rarity; I was not present at either of the last two battles. [Well okay that's technically not true.]

[juniorganymedian]

[He shuddered to think of an extended discussion on the matter with Pinkie Pie.]

I shall inquire after Ms. Rarity first, I think. Ms. Pie is a most... unusual young lady. [By which he means she is incredibly disturbing and makes him sing. His cool demeanor does ruffle a bit more than he would like at her mention.]

[raisethemoon]

[Luna knows exactly what that means. And she just smiles.]

She bears the Element of Laughter remarkably well.

[Oh it's so much funnier when it's happening to others.]

[juniorganymedian]

As you say, madam. [It was time for a change of topic.] In the vein of the Elements, though, I must commend you on your battle prowess during the most recent fight in Ponyville. You fought most admirably. I regret I did not have the chance to say so before.

[raisethemoon]

Thank you.

[She's a little uneasy with this particular choice of topic, but tries not to let it show. Maybe he really does just want to compliment her.]

[juniorganymedian]

[There is rarely a singular reason to pay another person a compliment. He wonders how far he can press her on the topic.]

I take it you had some personal connection to the form the foe chose to take, madam?

[Celestia shouting 'You are not my sister' and Luna attacking with wild abandon had been telling, after all.]

A connection to do with your moon, perhaps?

[It's natural for him like this, easier, to turn the discussion around and test the boundaries of what she will allow rather than dwell on his own frailties.]

[raisethemoon]

'Tis but a matter of old Equestrian history. We have lived long enough that I imagine we should recognize most any form it chose.

[Luna feels a stab of guilt for lying, but she did not come here and agree to help Jeeves just to get her own frailties picked at. She's told those she believes deserve the story long ago, and while it has crossed her mind more than once that those who fought the Nightmare deserve to know what its history was...

...she'll do it on her own terms if she does. Not like this.]

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves gives her an incredibly deadpan look.]

Indeed, madam.

[Her lack of candor and verisimilitude are interesting, but not something he'll likely be able to explore in any great depth here. He has no desire to offend or otherwise annoy a woman he's just asked to creep about in his sleeping mind. As they are at something of an impasse and there is still some part of the night left according to his pocket watch, Jeeves moves to close the discussion.]

Perhaps a deeper understanding might be gained from the books in the Ponyville library. I should not wish to waste your time with trivialities when you have your duties to attend to. Thank you for meeting me. I believe I will sleep easier with your assistance. If there is something I might do to return the favor at any time, you need only ask.

[raisethemoon]

[Was that some kind of veiled threat? What did she ever do to him? Now she's trying to recall exactly what books are in that library. Nothing older than a few years or younger than a few centuries should contain much...except for however Twilight Sparkle learned about her prophesied return in the first place, how did she do that? Ugh, she's going to have to ask Celestia.]

Of course. A good evening to thee.

[And she takes wing again. Jeeves, you have probably just disturbed and indeed somewhat annoyed the creeping woman.]